Potomac’s Eckerd Pharmacy (until recently the Potomac Village Pharmacy) was robbed on March 14, say Montgomery County Police.
Police say that a suspects entered the store and browsed the aisles, then engaged the pharmacist in conversation before leaving. About 15 minutes later, the suspect returned.
He walked straight back to the pharmacy section and pointed what police describe as a silver-colored, long-barreled handgun at the pharmacist and another employee.
He then handed the pharmacist a plastic bag and demanded that the pharmacist put all of the Oxycontin and Percocet — both powerful painkillers which can be used for recreational purposes — in the bag, including the generic versions of the drugs, say police. He did not demand any money.
Police responded at 2:30 p.m.
Similar incidents have occurred across the county in recent months, said police spokesperson Joyce Utter. However, police do not think that it is the work of a group. “There’s no indication that there’s a ring going on,” Utter said.
In each of the robberies, which have occurred in Damascus, Kensington and Burtonsville, the suspect has been a white male, Utter said.
In some cases, he will spend some time in the store first, Utter said, but not always. “There’s times when he walks straight back to the pharmacy,” Utter said.
After the suspect took the bag with the pills, he fled the store in an unknown direction. Utter said that police do not know if he fled on foot or in a car. Police are not releasing the amount which was taken for investigative purposes.
The suspect is described as a white male, 40 years old, 5-feet-9 inches tall, 240 pounds wearing a red shirt, black jeans and a camouflage jacket. Anyone with information about the incident, or the identity of the suspect is asked to call Montgomery County Police at 240-773-5100 or Crime Solvers at 1-800-673-2777.
Crime Solvers is offering a $1,000 reward for information which will lead to an arrest or indictment of the suspect.